Life Indiana teen faces possible jail time for sex doll prank gone wrong - Page 2

Deberg_1990 · 07-06-2011, 01:09 PM

Wow, complete fail all around....

http://www.thegrio.com/news/indiana-...gone-wrong.php

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- When 18-year-old Tyell Morton put a blow-up sex doll in a bathroom stall on the last day of school, he didn't expect school officials to call a bomb squad or that he'd be facing up to eight years in prison and a possible felony record.

The senior prank gone awry has raised questions of race, prosecutorial zeal and the post-Columbine mindset in a small Indiana town and around the country, The Indianapolis Star reported in its Tuesday editions.

Legal experts question the appropriateness of the charges against Morton, and law professor Jonathan Turley at George Washington University posed a wider question about Morton's case on his legal blog.

"The question is what type of society we are creating when our children have to fear that a prank (could) lead them to jail for almost a decade. What type of citizens are we creating who fear the arbitrary use of criminal charges by their government?"

A janitor at Rushville Consolidated High School saw Morton run away from the school May 31, and security footage showed a person in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves entering the school with a package and leaving five minutes later without it, according to court documents. Administrators feared explosives, so they locked down the school and called police. K9 dogs and a bomb squad searched the building before finding the sex doll.

"We have reviewed this situation numerous times," Rush County Schools Superintendent John E. Williams told the newspaper last week. "When you have an unknown intruder in the building, delivering an unknown package, we come up with the same conclusion. ... We cannot be too cautious, in this day and age."

Morton was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and institutional criminal mischief, a felony that carries the potential of two to eight years in prison. "I know there has been plenty of pranks done at that school," said Morton's mother, Cammie Morton. "I went to that school. When I heard what they was charging him for, my heart just dropped."

Joel Schumm, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, questioned the validity of the charges. "Their reaction is understandable, but use the school disciplinary process," he said. "Don't try to label the kid a felon for the rest of his life."

The Rush County Prosecutor Philip J. Caviness told The Associated Press that he doesn't intend to seek a prison term for Morton, but said school officials acted appropriately and that the charges are warranted. "I'm pretty comfortable with the charges that we've filed," he said.

Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts focused on Morton's case recently in his nationally syndicated column, suggesting that Morton's case was another example of unfair treatment for a black youth without a wealthy family. Morton's father brushed off that suggestion when Pitts asked him about it, and Morton's mother declined to discuss that point with The Star.

Morton's attorney, Robert Turner, also downplayed race, suggesting that the size of the small blue-collar city an hour southeast of Indianapolis played a role. "I don't think they do this sort of thing very often," Turner said. "Had this happened in Indianapolis ... they would not have had this kind of charge filed."

Morton's mother said Tyell Morton wants to attend college, but is worried about the case. "It's stressful for Tyell," Cammie Morton said. "He doesn't know where his life is going to end up. He has been looking -- I'll just put it this way: He's scared."

Hydrae · 07-06-2011, 02:09 PM

Charge the kid with the misdemeanor and make him pay for the bomb squad's time but do not make him a felon for life.

This is how we got to be the #1 country in the world in incarcerations.

2bikemike · 07-06-2011, 02:10 PM

I can't count the number of toilets that were blown up at school with M80s and cherry bombs. People got caught and may have been suspended for 3 days but that was about it. It must suck to be a kid today.

**kysirsoze** · 07-06-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurtCobain

Well, kids do bring better guns to school. I had a stick of dynamite once I bought from another kid in 7th grade, if that thing had gone off it would've been a blown up school.

I'm not sure that happened so much when parents could beat their children. That's what has changed, kids aren't afraid of their elders any more.

And as for this case, I think shutting the school down and searching for a bomb was smart and the only right idea. Charging this kid with a felony, eh, I don't know. But did he break into the school? Not sure I caught that when I read the article. If he did, then yeah, he's an adult, breaking in to a place is a felony.

He's not being charged with breaking and entering. He's being charged with "institutional criminal mischief". It's a felony. Also he's being charged with some misdemeanor. The prosecutor isn't seeking jail time, but the kid is 18 so the felony will **** him up regardless. What a piece of shit that prosecutor is.

KurtCobain · 07-06-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

He's not being charged with breaking and entering. He's being charged with "institutional criminal mischief". It's a felony. Also he's being charged with some misdemeanor. The prosecutor isn't seeking jail time, but the kid is 18 so the felony will **** him up regardless. What a piece of shit that prosecutor is.

You misread my post and yours in misguided.

I said, he should/could have been charged with breaking and entering if that's what he did. So there's a felony equal to this one, right? Even if this one is unfair, which if the school was closed, it is very fair.

And in most states besides kansas, a small felony conviction like this won't stay on your record if you have no criminal history. The likely plea deal will be 2 or 3 yrs probation, and with the condition that once probation is completed, the offense is COMPLETELY wiped off your record.

**kysirsoze** · 07-06-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurtCobain

You misread my post and yours in misguided.

I said, he should/could have been charged with breaking and entering if that's what he did. So there's a felony equal to this one, right? Even if this one is unfair, which if the school was closed, it is very fair.

And in most states besides kansas, a small felony conviction like this won't stay on your record if you have no criminal history. The likely plea deal will be 2 or 3 yrs probation, and with the condition that once probation is completed, the offense is COMPLETELY wiped off your record.

I didn't misread, I was letting you know what he was being charged with. I didn't know about the second part of your post, and I hope that's the case if he gets convicted of this bullshit charge.

keg in kc · 07-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurtCobain

I'm not sure that happened so much when parents could beat their children. That's what has changed, kids aren't afraid of their elders any more.

Absolutely, cause kids never did anything stupid when they were spanked.

Valiant · 07-06-2011, 02:36 PM

If the doors to a public building were not locked, then I do not see how he broke in.

Make him pay a fine and some community service. If it goes that far and he gets the felony, hopefully the town rallies and fires/removes all of those that signed off on it.

**gblowfish** · 07-06-2011, 02:46 PM

Before I can render an opinion on this racially and ethically charged scenario, I must ask....

Exactly what did this doll look like?

Just Passin' By · 07-06-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

In this day and age? Why? Do we have school buildings exploding on a weekly basis in this day and age? I must have missed that.

In this day and age = In a time where prosecutors are idiots

Rooster · 07-06-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Exactly what did this doll look like?

Nobody knows... The janitor kept her.

**Rausch** · 07-06-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

Nobody knows... The janitor kept her.

...

Ugly Duck · 07-06-2011, 04:40 PM

Cardinal Rule: Run into the head, they think you have diarrhea. Run out of the head, they think you planted a bomb & you get 8 years. Its his own fault.

Backwards Masking · 07-06-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I can't count the number of toilets that were blown up at school with M80s and cherry bombs. People got caught and may have been suspended for 3 days but that was about it. It must suck to be a kid today.

Yep. 25 years ago the teachers and administrators would have been laughing at this behind closed doors as much as the students.

Mr. Laz · 07-06-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Charge the kid with the misdemeanor and make him pay for the bomb squad's time but do not make him a felon for life.

This is how we got to be the #1 country in the world in incarcerations.

kid shouldn't be charged WITH ANYTHING

give him a couple weeks of school detention and make him scrub toilets or something for awhile.

He pulled a prank there was nothing criminal about it.

07-06-2011, 01:09 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $24454	Indiana teen faces possible jail time for sex doll prank gone wrong Wow, complete fail all around.... http://www.thegrio.com/news/indiana-...gone-wrong.php INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- When 18-year-old Tyell Morton put a blow-up sex doll in a bathroom stall on the last day of school, he didn't expect school officials to call a bomb squad or that he'd be facing up to eight years in prison and a possible felony record. The senior prank gone awry has raised questions of race, prosecutorial zeal and the post-Columbine mindset in a small Indiana town and around the country, The Indianapolis Star reported in its Tuesday editions. Legal experts question the appropriateness of the charges against Morton, and law professor Jonathan Turley at George Washington University posed a wider question about Morton's case on his legal blog. "The question is what type of society we are creating when our children have to fear that a prank (could) lead them to jail for almost a decade. What type of citizens are we creating who fear the arbitrary use of criminal charges by their government?" A janitor at Rushville Consolidated High School saw Morton run away from the school May 31, and security footage showed a person in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves entering the school with a package and leaving five minutes later without it, according to court documents. Administrators feared explosives, so they locked down the school and called police. K9 dogs and a bomb squad searched the building before finding the sex doll. "We have reviewed this situation numerous times," Rush County Schools Superintendent John E. Williams told the newspaper last week. "When you have an unknown intruder in the building, delivering an unknown package, we come up with the same conclusion. ... We cannot be too cautious, in this day and age." Morton was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and institutional criminal mischief, a felony that carries the potential of two to eight years in prison. "I know there has been plenty of pranks done at that school," said Morton's mother, Cammie Morton. "I went to that school. When I heard what they was charging him for, my heart just dropped." Joel Schumm, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, questioned the validity of the charges. "Their reaction is understandable, but use the school disciplinary process," he said. "Don't try to label the kid a felon for the rest of his life." The Rush County Prosecutor Philip J. Caviness told The Associated Press that he doesn't intend to seek a prison term for Morton, but said school officials acted appropriately and that the charges are warranted. "I'm pretty comfortable with the charges that we've filed," he said. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts focused on Morton's case recently in his nationally syndicated column, suggesting that Morton's case was another example of unfair treatment for a black youth without a wealthy family. Morton's father brushed off that suggestion when Pitts asked him about it, and Morton's mother declined to discuss that point with The Star. Morton's attorney, Robert Turner, also downplayed race, suggesting that the size of the small blue-collar city an hour southeast of Indianapolis played a role. "I don't think they do this sort of thing very often," Turner said. "Had this happened in Indianapolis ... they would not have had this kind of charge filed." Morton's mother said Tyell Morton wants to attend college, but is worried about the case. "It's stressful for Tyell," Cammie Morton said. "He doesn't know where his life is going to end up. He has been looking -- I'll just put it this way: He's scared."
Posts: 68,741

07-06-2011, 02:09 PM	#16
Hydrae MVP Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Newport, Or Casino cash: $-1213000	Charge the kid with the misdemeanor and make him pay for the bomb squad's time but do not make him a felon for life. This is how we got to be the #1 country in the world in incarcerations.
Posts: 14,861

07-06-2011, 02:10 PM	#17
2bikemike Born to Ride Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NWA Casino cash: $-1254623	I can't count the number of toilets that were blown up at school with M80s and cherry bombs. People got caught and may have been suspended for 3 days but that was about it. It must suck to be a kid today.
Posts: 16,422

07-06-2011, 02:36 PM	#22
Valiant Valiant 'The Thread Killer' Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $4472380	If the doors to a public building were not locked, then I do not see how he broke in. Make him pay a fine and some community service. If it goes that far and he gets the felony, hopefully the town rallies and fires/removes all of those that signed off on it.
Posts: 18,562

07-06-2011, 02:46 PM	#23
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	Before I can render an opinion on this racially and ethically charged scenario, I must ask.... Exactly what did this doll look like?
Posts: 41,023

07-06-2011, 04:40 PM	#27
Ugly Duck MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Petaluma, CA, USA Casino cash: $9955920	Cardinal Rule: Run into the head, they think you have diarrhea. Run out of the head, they think you planted a bomb & you get 8 years. Its his own fault.
Posts: 10,146